Frequently Asked Questions
Compiled by Susan du Plessis

Who can benefit from Audiblox?

Q: What learning difficulties does Audiblox address?
A: Audiblox is effective in addressing and correcting a variety of learning difficulties, including difficulties with reading, spelling, and handwriting. The Audiblox program also contains a language component, which is effective in overcoming a language problem. The language component is explained in the book The Right to Read.

The majority of Audiblox users have reading difficulties. According to the statistics more that 70 percent of people with learning difficulties have dyslexia or reading difficulties.

Generally, the term “dyslexia” is used to describe a severe reading problem, but there has been little agreement in the literature or in practice concerning the definition of severe or the specific distinguishing characteristics that differentiate dyslexia from other reading problems. Instead of getting involved in the wrangling over a definition, it is easier to use the "symptoms" below as an indication that a person has a reading problem and therefore needs help:

• One of the most obvious — and a common — telltale signs is reversals. People with this kind of problem often confuse letters like b and d, either when reading or when writing, or they sometimes read (or write) words like "rat" for "tar," or "won" for "now."

• Another sure sign, which needs no confirmation by means of any form of testing, is elisions, that is when a person sometimes reads or writes "cat" when the word is actually "cart."

• The person who reads very slowly and hesitantly, who reads without fluency, word by word, or who constantly loses his place, thereby leaving out whole chunks or reading the same passage twice, has a reading problem.

• The person may try to sound out the letters of the word, but then be unable to say the correct word. For example, he may sound the letters "c-a-t" but then say "cold."
  

• He may read or write the letters of a word in the wrong order, like "left" for "felt," or the syllables in the wrong order, like "emeny" for "enemy," or words in the wrong order, like "are there" for "there are."

• He may spell words as they sound, for example "rite" for "right."

• He may read with poor comprehension, or it may be that he remembers little of what he reads.

• The person may have a poor and/or slow handwriting. This problem is often referred to as “dysgraphia.”

Q: Is Audiblox effective for math problems?
A: In the case of a learner who has reading and/or spelling difficulties, it is recommended that one deals with these problems first, before attending to a math problem. In most cases, one should see at least some improvement in math simply by following the relevant Audiblox programs. Once the learner's reading and spelling are on par, and still needs help with math, or if math is the only problem experienced by the learner, the advice below applies.

Mathematics is a subject that consists of two aspects:

Much of the basic knowledge and many of the skills mentioned above, that relate to mathematics, are taught and exercised by means of Audiblox, like for example counting, adding and subtracting, and multiplication tables. In addition, the skill of logical thinking is also taught. In the case of a younger learner, this should in most cases be sufficient to solve his math problem adequately. When an older learner has problems with math, it may be because he has so far been unable to acquire the math skills adequately and to learn the knowledge that has been presented to him. Through the Audiblox exercises, he will certainly acquire the skills required for math, but he may also have fallen behind as far as the knowledge aspect of math is concerned. It may therefore be advisable to send him for extra math classes also, so that he may catch up on the knowledge aspect.

In the case of a severe math problem I recommend a combination of Audiblox and Kumon Math. Only doing Audiblox usually delivers results, but not good enough to completely overcome a serious problem. The same applies to doing only Kumon Math — it delivers some results, but not enough. However, following a combination of Audiblox and Kumon usually delivers excellent results! The two programs seem to support one another extremely well and we usually see quick progress in learners who do a combination of the two programs.

In order to apply Audiblox for math, the Audiblox Math Program in the Supplementary manual is highly recommended.

Q: Is Audiblox intended only for children with learning difficulties?
A: No, Audiblox is definitely not exclusively intended for children with learning difficulties. It can also be used to improve the learning and reading abilities of children who have no problems at all. One should consider that we do not provide athletics training to children and adults who are lame or uncoordinated. We take the talented ones, and through judicious training and exercise, we are able to turn them into great athletes. The same applies on the mental plane. If we take the talented, intelligent and creative children and expose them to Audiblox training, we shall be able to turn them into great mental athletes.

Q: From what age can one use the Audiblox program?
A: Audiblox can be used from about three years and upwards. The Supplementary manual contains an Audiblox program for preschool use. Until a child reaches the age of three, language is the most important intellectual aspect to take care of. The Right to Read explains to parents what they can do to stimulate their children's language development.

Q: Is Audiblox suitable for high school learners and adults?
A: Yes. The Supplementary manual contains an Advanced Program for High School Learners/Adults. The Advanced Program is not applicable for severe learning problems, but only for moderate problems, or to improve college entrance exam scores of high school learners. In the case of severe problems, the standard Audiblox program, which appears in chapter 20 of the book The Right to Read, is recommended.

Please note that an adult cannot use Audiblox by himself. Another person, such as the adult's husband or wife, must play the role of tutor.